Chapter Twenty-Six

The next morning, Orlando woke to the sounds of Teresa moving about the room. He opened his eyes and saw her packing her clothes in her suitcase. "Where are you going?" he asked, causing her to jump. Teresa didn't answer so Orlando rose and went to her taking her in his arms. "Where are you going?" he asked quietly once more.

"I-," she said. "I'm going home. I need to be with my family. I remember them now, and they must miss me terribly. I realize now that's where I belong. Please, let me go," she said stiffly.

Orlando pulled her slightly away from him and shook his head. "That I cannot do. I need you, and so does Legolas." He heard her inhale sharply at the mention of the Elf. "If you wish to see your family, then I won't stop you, but I won't let you face them alone either. I'll go with you. I won't let you shut me out, Teresa." Orlando watched as she raised her face to his. Before she could protest, he bent his head and kissed her full on her lips. He had wanted to do that for some time now, though he had never dared. He felt her hands on his chest trying to push him away, but as he held the kiss and slowly deepened it seeking entrance with his tongue against her soft lips, her attempts slowly stopped. She was quiet when he ended the kiss. "Teresa," he whispered hoarsely. "I mean what I said, I promise. I will always be here for you."

She crumpled then and he caught her quickly before she hit the floor. When he pulled away enough to look in her face, she was sobbing. "How-" she whispered. "How can you promise such a thing? Death comes on swift wings, and no one can stop it or tell the future. Adrian promised me that too, and now…" she said and her voice trailed off.

"That is true, Teresa," Orlando said quietly as he scooped her into his arms and carried her over to the bed then after laying her gently upon it, he lay beside her and dried her tears as he caressed her skin. "No one can tell the future," he said gently. " No mortal anyway. But you have a gift, in fact, we both do." She looked at him in confusion and he smiled. "We are linked to an immortal, an Elf. As I understand it, I will become Legolas whenever this melding of the soul and spirit is complete, and when that happens, I will do everything I can to bring us both to the eternal lands of Valinor." Teresa looked at him in surprise. "You, my dear, are blessed with both the love of Legolas as well as me as I am now. If Legolas spoke true, and our fates are already intertwined, then Ilúvatar will not allow death to find either of us. That is how I can promise you such things," he whispered looking deep in her sea blue eyes and she knew as she looked back into the chocolate depths before her that he spoke the truth.

A few hours later, she was rifling through her suitcase for the papers she had brought to England with her. Her hands shook when she uncovered the one upon which was written the numbers of her parents as well as Adrian's. Orlando came into the room and stood behind where she knelt on the floor. He knelt behind her when he saw her trembling and took her in his arms to comfort her. "It's ok," he whispered and kissed her hair. She sighed heavily and melted into him.
"I can't go back with you," she said quietly. "How would it look if I went back with a boyfriend so soon after loosing my husband and son?"

Orlando wasn't in the least surprised by her question. In fact he had been expecting it. "Well," he said softly as he rocked her in his arms. "How about a friend?" She smiled for the first time that day and nodded.

She had called her family and they had been very surprised by her call and were extremely glad to hear that her amnesia was gone and that she was coming home. Teresa told them to expect her to arrive the next day and told them she was bringing a friend with her. Her parents called her sister, Naomi and told her the news. Naomi immediately took family leave from work and flew home to be with the family when her sister arrived. Naomi had been very upset to hear how badly the tragedy had affected her younger sibling.

After Teresa had made her call, Orlando also called Chris Andrews and told him that he was taking a week's vacation to take care of something urgent. He also called Phillip Garrison, who was directing the movie Orlando was currently shooting. "Phil?" Orlando asked when the man answered.

"Yeah?" Phil answered. " Orlando? Where are you? I've been trying to reach you for hours."

"I'm at home," Orlando replied.

"Well get down here. We need you to finish up a scene."

"How long do we have until deadline?" Orlando asked. "This scene you want to shoot is my last right?"

"We have four weeks left. Yeah, it's your last scene," Phil answered. "Why?"

"Listen Phil," Orlando said. "It'll have to wait. Shoot the rest first. I'll finish it up when I get back."

"Back?" Phil asked confused. "Back from where? When?"

"I need to leave for a week." Orlando said. "Something urgent has come up. I will be going to Albuquerque, New Mexico over in the US."

"The US?" Phil asked in disbelief. "Isn't that where Teresa is from? Nothing has happened to the poor girl has it?"

"No," Orlando said. "She has remembered her past. She wishes to visit her family now and I don't want her to have to face them alone. I need to be there for her. I will be leaving tonight and we will be back in a week."

Phil sighed. "Ok, Orlando," he said. "We'll shoot the reset of the film then see you here the day after you get back."

"Thanks, Phil," Orlando said and after saying good-bye hung up. He took a few minutes to pack a suitcase then he called Randolph to take them to the airport.